System and method for multiple component audio visual programming

ABSTRACT

A computer-implemented method for activity instruction. The method includes: providing a website for access via a network by a user; prompting the user to select an activity from a plurality of activities provided on the website; prompting the user to select a distractor from a plurality of distractors provided on the website; prompting the user to select a virtual environment from a plurality of virtual environments provided on the website; and displaying the selected activity, the selected distractor, and the selected virtual environment on a display, wherein the user perceives the selected activity and the selected distractor in the selected virtual environment.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing multiple component audio-visual programming, and more particularly, a system and method for providing multiple component audio-visual programming to provide instruction for an activity.

BACKGROUND

With medical research indicating the beneficial aspects of exercise in light of decreases in physical activity resulting from modern lifestyles, there is a growing need for exercise programs that achieve sufficient beneficial physical activity by a method that is compatible with the daily lives of both adults and children. However, it can be difficult for people to be motivated to be physically active, since they may perceive it to be uncomfortable, uninteresting, or tedious. Further, the time and energy that people have available for physical activity may change on a daily basis. Therefore, there is a need for a physical fitness program that is interesting, adaptable, and easy to implement.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed toward a system and method for providing multiple component audio-visual programming, which may be utilized to provide instruction for an activity. In this system and method, the components of the audio-visual programming may include an activity, a distractor, and a virtual environment. According to embodiments of the present invention, a user may design a custom workout by selecting a desire activity, a desired distractor, and a desired virtual environment. In other embodiments, the user may choose to select an instructional workout with an activity and a system-selected virtual environment, rather than design a custom workout.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for activity instruction. The method includes: providing a website for access via a network by a user; prompting the user to select an activity from a plurality of activities provided on the website; prompting the user to select a distractor from a plurality of distractors provided on the website; prompting the user to select a virtual environment from a plurality of virtual environments provided on the website; and displaying the selected activity, the selected distractor, and the selected virtual environment on a display, wherein the user perceives the selected activity and the selected distractor in the selected virtual environment.

Each of the plurality of activities may include an instructor performing a physical activity for the user to emulate. The instructor may appear to be performing the physical activity in the selected virtual environment.

The selected distractor may be displayed on a portion of the display within the selected virtual environment. Each of the plurality of distractors may include an audio-visual recording such that the user perceives the audio-visual recording of the selected distractor while perceiving the selected activity. Each of the plurality of distractors may be selected from a group including educational information, nutritional information, test questions, test answers, and entertainment.

Each of the plurality of activities may be selected from the group comprising football, soccer, swimming, yoga, dance, baseball, Pilates, martial arts, golf, volleyball, and hockey. Each of the plurality of activities may be physical fitness instruction.

The method may further include prompting the user to select an instructional workout or a custom workout, wherein, if the user selects a custom workout, the user is further prompted to select an activity, a distractor, and a virtual environment.

The instructional workout may include an instructor performing an activity for the user to emulate in a system-selected virtual environment.

An embodiment of the present invention provides an activity instruction system. The system includes: a network interface and a server. The server includes an activity database comprising a plurality of activities, wherein a user is prompted to select an activity from the plurality of activities; a distractor database including a plurality of distractors, wherein the user is prompted to select a distractor from the plurality of distractors; and a virtual environment database comprising a plurality of virtual environments, wherein the user is prompted to select a virtual environment from the plurality of virtual environments. The selected activity, the selected distractor, and the selected virtual environment are displayed on a display, and the user perceives the selected activity and the selected distractor in the selected virtual environment.

Each of the plurality of distractors may be selected from a group including educational information, nutritional information, test questions, test answers, and entertainment.

Each of the plurality of activities is selected from the group including football, soccer, swimming, yoga, dance, baseball, Pilates, martial arts, golf, volleyball, and hockey.

Each of the plurality of activities includes an instructor performing a physical activity for the user to emulate. The instructor may appear to be performing the physical activity in the selected virtual environment.

The selected distractor may be displayed on a portion of the display. Each of the plurality of distractors may include an audio-visual recording such that the user perceives the audio-visual recording of the selected distractor while perceiving the selected activity.

Each of the plurality of activities may be physical fitness instruction.

The server may further include an instructional workout database, wherein the user is prompted to select an instructional workout or a custom workout and, if the user selects a custom workout, the user is then prompted to select an activity, a distractor, and a virtual environment.

The instructional workout may include an instructor performing an activity for the user to emulate in a system-selected virtual environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one color drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application with color drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system for multiple component audio-visual programming according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing a method for multiple component audio-visual programming according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a method for selecting a custom workout according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a screen capture of a login screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a screen capture of a license activation screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a screen capture of a custom workout or instructional workout selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a screen capture of a custom workout activity selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a screen capture of a custom workout activity screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a screen capture of a custom workout distractor screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a screen capture of a custom workout virtual environment screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a screen capture of a custom workout audio-visual program according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a screen capture of an instructional workout training tools selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a screen capture of an instructional workout minute moves selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a screen capture of an instructional workout circuits selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a screen capture of an instructional workout arts selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a screen capture of an instructional workout sports skills selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a screen capture of an instructional workout fitness skills selection screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the drawings is intended as a description of embodiments of a system and method for multiple component audio-visual programming provided in accordance with the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the invention may be constructed or utilized. It is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and structures may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention. As denoted elsewhere herein, like element numbers indicate like elements or features. Though steps of the method may be illustrated in one order, unless explicitly stated, the steps of the method of the present invention are not limited to any particular order and some of the steps may be optional.

The present invention provides a system and method for providing multiple component audio-visual programming, which may be utilized to provide instruction for an activity, such as physical fitness training, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In this system 100 and method 200, the components of the audio-visual programming may include an activity (e.g., calisthenics or weight lifting), a distractor (e.g., a music video or an instructional video), and a virtual environment (e.g, the beach or a sports stadium). According to embodiments of the present invention, a user may design a custom workout by selecting a desired activity, a desired distractor, and a desired virtual environment. Once the activity, the distractor, and the virtual environment have been selected, these components are displayed simultaneously on a display, where the activity appears to take place in the virtual environment and the distractor is shown on a portion of the display. In other embodiments, the user may select an instructional workout, rather than design a custom workout.

As shown in FIG. 1, a system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a server 106 connected to the Internet 104 and also connected to an activity database 108, a virtual environment database 110, a distractor database 112, and an instructional workout database 114. Further, a user may access the server 106 via a user access device 120 with the system software installed, which may be any suitable device such as a computer.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a user may use the system 100 of FIG. 1 according to the method 200 shown in FIG. 2. First, the user logs into the user's account 210 using a user name and password, as shown on the screen capture of the login page shown in FIG. 4. The user is then granted access to the currently installed and licensed content on the user access device 120, and the user account information associated with that user name. Here, the user has the ability to access their personal data and account information from any device that has the system software installed. In other embodiments, no system software is required to be installed on the user access device 120, and the user is granted access to any necessary software on the server 106.

If the user does not have an account, the user may access the server 106 to set up an account, for example, by clicking the “signup!” button shown in FIG. 4. Here, the user will then be prompted to enter a user name, password, and email address. The user will then be issued an account and a validation email will be sent to the provided email address. Once a link is clicked in the validation email, the account is validated and the user may log in from any installation of the system software from a user access device 120 connected to the Internet 104.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the user may be presented with an end-user license agreement, and upon agreement, the user is then directed to the login page.

In other embodiments, a license manager authorizes a user access device 120 to decrypt and playback a selection of content. An associated license number is provided to the user when the user purchases the selected content. All of the selected content that the user purchases may be associated with the license number.

Once the user logs into the user's account, the user is prompted to select either a custom workout or an instructional workout 204, as shown in the screen capture in FIG. 6. If the user selects a custom workout, the user is then prompted to select an activity, distractor, and virtual environment 206, which is shown in further detail in FIG. 3. The selection process 300 includes prompting the user to select an activity from a plurality of activities 310, prompting the user to select a distractor from a plurality of distractors 320, and prompting the user to select a virtual environment from a plurality of virtual environments 330. In other embodiments, the user may also check for software updates that may be downloaded, change video options, such as resolution or display size, and access the user's account page to view user information, purchases, account and billing settings, and statistics, from this screen.

In FIG. 7, a screen capture of an activity selection menu is shown. Here, several categories of activities (i.e., workouts) are shown. In this embodiment, once the user selects a category, the user will be prompted to choose an activity from a subset of the plurality of activities that are within that category. For the user's convenience, the categories may have sub-categories so that the user can efficiently locate a desired activity.

In FIG. 8, a screen capture of an example of an activity is shown, where the shown activity is aerobic dance. However, the plurality of activities may include any suitable type of activity, such as physical fitness activities including sports techniques, calisthenics, weight lifting, cheerleading, performing arts, martial arts, yoga, running, and jumping rope, where an instructor demonstrates the activity. The activity may be any of a number of different activities, some of which are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/384,378, entitled “Physical Education System” to Tom Root et al., the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

In FIG. 9, a screen capture of a distractor is shown, where the shown distractor is an educational video regarding recycling. Here, the distractor may be selected by the user in a manner similar to that of the selection of the activity. The plurality of distractors may include any suitable distractor, such as music videos, educational videos, streaming web content, movies, and television shows. In embodiments of the present invention, the distractor may be chosen from content provided by the system 100 through the server 106, content played from a DVD, content on the user access device 120 including home movies, or content on the internet 104 including content from websites such as Hulu.com, iTunes, and Netflix.

In FIG. 10, a screen capture of a virtual environment is shown, where the shown virtual environment is a mountain landscape. Here, the virtual environment may be selected by the user in a manner similar to that of the selection of the activity. The plurality of virtual environments may include any suitable virtual environment, such as sports stadiums, natural landscapes, indoor environments, classrooms, and famous monuments.

Once the user has selected an activity, a distractor, and a virtual environment, the audio-visual program is displayed 208, where the selected activity is displayed on a portion of the display 210, the selected distractor is displayed on a portion of the display 212, and the selected virtual environment is displayed on a portion of the display 214. A screen capture of an example of the audio-visual program is shown in FIG. 11. The user then performs the selected activity while also viewing the selected distractor 216.

When the user is prompted to select a custom workout or an instructional workout 204, if the user selects an instructional workout, the user then selects the desired instructional workout 218. The instructional workouts typically include activities similar to those of the custom workouts that are performed in pre-selected virtual environments and without distractors. Since there are fewer selections to make, the user is able to get started on an activity more quickly and with less decision-making required.

The user may select an instructional workout from a number of categories, such as training tools (a variety of fitness lessons) shown in FIG. 12, minute moves (2-5 minute exercise segments of varying intensity) shown in FIG. 13, circuits (a variety of circuits to train the entire body) shown in FIG. 14, arts (a variety of lessons including music, performing art, and more) shown in FIG. 15, sports skills (a variety of lessons to develop sport-specific skills) shown in FIG. 16, and fitness skills (a variety of aerobic and functional exercises to train the entire body) shown in FIG. 17. These categories may have subcategories so that the user can efficiently find a desired instructional workout.

The user then performs the selected instructional workout that is displayed on the display 220. In some embodiments, the instructional workout includes verbal instruction regarding the activity.

In other embodiments of the present invention, only the custom workout is available, so the user is not prompted to select either a custom workout or an instructional workout.

An outline of the menus encountered by the user during the custom workout selection process according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown below:

I. Select Workout

a) School i) Cheerleading (1) Cheertastic 1 (2) Cheertastic 2 ii) Cool Downs (1) meditation martial fusion iii) Dance (1) footworks 1 (2) footworks 2 iv) Performing arts (1) animal moves (2) jumping (3) skiing (4) skipping rope/basketball (5) skipping rope/skiing (6) Two for One v) Martial Arts Fusion (1) cardio (2) flexibility vi) Agility skills (1) balance grid (2) speed grid vii) Hollywood Stuntsmen (1) martial arts (2) sword fighting pirate viii) Warmups (1) warm up combo 1 (2) warm up combo 2 (3) warm up combo 3 (4) warm up combo 4 ix) Yoga (1) balance (2) strength (3) sun salutation b) Sports and Fitness i) Sports (1) U.S. Rowing (a) Exercise 1 (b) Exercise 2 (2) Basketball (a) Intro to Skills (3) Baseball (a) baseball warm-ups (b) baseball combos (4) Sports Combos (a) Sports Combo 1 (b) Sports Combo 2 (c) Sports Combo 3 (d) Sports Combo 4 (5) Soccer (a) soccer combos (6) Football (a) football combos ii) Fitness (1) Freddie the Falcon Mascot (a) Freddie Internet Demo (b) Freddie Running in Place (2) Agility skills (a) speed grid (b) balance grid (3) Acting (a) physical comedy 1 (b) physical comedy 2 (4) Yoga (a) yoga balance (b) sun salutations iii) Assessment (1) fitness gram

II. Select Video

a) Healthy Education i) The Heart ii) Anti-Smoking iii) Vivacious Veggies b) Physical Education i) Avoiding the Flu ii) Attach of the Bio Film iii) Seal the Deal c) Health Services i) Personal Hygiene d) Mental Health and Social i) U.S. Rowing e) Nutritional i) National Dairy Council ii) Sugar grams iii) Food pyramid iv) Organic D f) Healthy & Safe Environment i) Water Conservation ii) Planet of Water iii) Organwise g) Family & Community i) Auto B Good ii) Perfect Bood for You iii) Volunteering iv) Math is Music h) Staff Wellness i) Ming-Kai Chin

Select Location

a) NFL Play 60 i) Fuel up to play 60 (1) Office (2) Sunset Lake (3) Boardroom (4) Shanghai ii) NFL Players (1) Felix Jones (a) FJZ Bedroom iii) NFL Stadiums (1) Falcons (a) Falcons Stadium (2) Redskins (a) Redskins Stadium b) Sports Courts i) Football ii) Basketball iii) Agricultural Center iv) Science Center c) Locations i) Bedroom ii) City iii) Classroom iv) Country v) Future 1 vi) Future 2 vii) Gardens viii) Office ix) Shanghai x) Sunset Lake xi) City 1 xii) City 2 xiii) Country xiv) SciFi xv) Stadium

In embodiments of the present invention, the user may change the selected activity (instructor), distractor, or virtual environment during the display of the program.

In other embodiments, controls on the display of the program allow the user to adjust the display, such as the volume or to move forward or backward in the program.

In embodiments of the present invention, the user may purchase additional content for the system 100, including additional activities, distractors, and virtual environments. The user may be able to purchase this additional content on-line for download or streaming, and this content may be associated with the user's license number. In other embodiments, the user may be provided additional content based on usage or other parameters.

In other embodiment, the system 100 may recommend new custom workouts or new content for purchase based on previous user selections.

In other embodiments, the user may access the user's account to view statistics regarding usage, such as frequency of use of the system and types of use.

In other embodiments of the present invention, the system may display third party advertising during the instructional workout or the custom workout, where the advertising may be embedded in the virtual environment, the activity, or before, during, or after the display of the distractor.

In other embodiments, the system 100 may be configured such that multiple users in different locations may perform the activity together, which allows the users to motivate and encourage each other.

In embodiments of the present invention, the custom workouts are played back using multiple Adobe Flash Player windows.

Although the present invention has been described through the use of exemplary embodiments, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that various modifications may be made to the described embodiments that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented method for activity instruction, the method comprising: providing a website for access via a network by a user; prompting the user to select an activity from a plurality of activities provided on the website; prompting the user to select a distractor from a plurality of distractors provided on the website; prompting the user to select a virtual environment from a plurality of virtual environments provided on the website; and displaying the selected activity, the selected distractor, and the selected virtual environment on a display, wherein the user perceives the selected activity and the selected distractor in the selected virtual environment.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of activities comprises an instructor performing a physical activity for the user to emulate.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the instructor appears to be performing the physical activity in the selected virtual environment.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected distractor is displayed on a portion of the display within the selected virtual environment.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of distractors comprises an audio-visual recording such that the user perceives the audio-visual recording of the selected distractor while perceiving the selected activity.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of distractors is selected from a group comprising educational information, nutritional information, test questions, test answers, and entertainment.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of activities is selected from the group comprising football, soccer, swimming, yoga, dance, baseball, Pilates, martial arts, golf, volleyball, and hockey.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of activities is physical fitness instruction.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises prompting the user to select an instructional workout or a custom workout, wherein, if the user selects a custom workout, the user is further prompted to select an activity, a distractor, and a virtual environment.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the instructional workout comprises an instructor performing an activity for the user to emulate in a system-selected virtual environment.
 11. An activity instruction system, the system comprising: a network interface; and a server comprising: an activity database comprising a plurality of activities, wherein a user is prompted to select an activity from the plurality of activities; a distractor database comprising a plurality of distractors, wherein the user is prompted to select a distractor from the plurality of distractors; and a virtual environment database comprising a plurality of virtual environments, wherein the user is prompted to select a virtual environment from the plurality of virtual environments, wherein the selected activity, the selected distractor, and the selected virtual environment are displayed on a display, and wherein the user perceives the selected activity and the selected distractor in the selected virtual environment.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of distractors is selected from a group comprising educational information, nutritional information, test questions, test answers, and entertainment.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of activities is selected from the group comprising football, soccer, swimming, yoga, dance, baseball, Pilates, martial arts, golf, volleyball, and hockey.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the each of the plurality of activities comprises an instructor performing a physical activity for the user to emulate.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructor appears to be performing the physical activity in the selected virtual environment.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein the selected distractor is displayed on a portion of the display.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of distractors comprises an audio-visual recording such that the user perceives the audio-visual recording of the selected distractor while perceiving the selected activity.
 18. The system of claim 11, wherein each of the plurality of activities is physical fitness instruction.
 19. The system of claim 11, wherein the server further comprises an instructional workout database, wherein the user is prompted to select an instructional workout or a custom workout and, if the user selects a custom workout, the user is then prompted to select an activity, a distractor, and a virtual environment.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructional workout comprises an instructor performing an activity for the user to emulate in a system-selected virtual environment. 